ORION 9mm AR-15

It always excites me to learn of new players and products in the field of AR-15 rifles, carbines and pistols. The latest to catch my interest is the Orion 9mm AR-15 product lineup. It’s common knowledge here on AR-15 TACTICAL that I completely embrace pistol caliber AR-15 carbines, especially those chambered in 9mm.

The 9mm cartridge is standard issue to many law enforcement for use with duty sidearms, the United States Military M9 pistol and probably the most popular centerfire pistol cartridge in the world. This commonality guarantees easy to locate and inexpensive ammunition for shooters everywhere.

ORION 9mm AR-15 Product Lineup

Orion Guns offers a full line of 9mm AR-15 products that include complete 9mm AR-15 rifles, complete 9mm AR-15 upper receivers, complete and stripped 9mm AR-15 lower receivers and 9mm AR-15 barrels. What is not clear about Orion Guns is whether they actually manufacture any 9mm AR-15 hardware themselves or assemble hardware from other manufacturers. I suspect the answer is somewhere in the middle. The pictures on the Orion Guns website as well as the website appear to be home brew.

Judging from the pictures on the website I suspect Orion is producing 9mm AR barrels and combining them with hardware from other manufacturers as necessary. Nothing wrong with any of this. In fact I praise and encourage them for recognizing a void and diving in. Orion Guns must be doing something right because I learned of them from Brownells. Click here for more information and ordering.

ORION 9mm AR-15 Barrels

The Orion AR-15 Barrels Chambered in 9mm are available in 5″, 8″, 10.5″ & 16″. Made of 4140 Chrome Moly Steel and black nitride finished, these barrels are heat treated and stress relieved. They are stress relieved once again after the button rifling process. All barrels threaded 5/8-24 with a 1-10 twist.

ORION 9mm AR-15 Upper Receivers

Orion offers 9mm AR-15 uppers with the following barrel lengths, 3-inch, 5-inch, 8-inch, 10.5-inch and 16-inch. The uppers are available with knurled tubular, quad-rail and standard two piece A2 style handguards.

Like this:

HAHN PRECISION TOP LOADING 9MM CONVERSION BLOCK A9CRT0702 – One-piece, machined aluminum block converts AR-15 lower receiver to 9mm. Compatible with all, Colt-type, 9mm upper receivers, the feed ramp is cut for reliable feeding with all types of ammo, including hollow point and frangible ball. Roller retention device holds block securely in receiver, prevents accidental release. Hardened steel ejector, feed ramp and bolt hold open give long service life; last-round-hold-open feature on bottom-loading model works when used with Colt magazines. Also works with modified UZI magazines but last-round-hold-open will not function. No receiver modification required. Top-Loading Block installs from the top of the lower receiver and Bottom-Loading Block installs from the bottom of the lower receiver.

*Adapter drops into the top of the receiver and virtually impossible to remove unless the upper receiver is opened. Ideal for users using converted Uzi 9mm magazines not concerned with having the bolt hold open feature. Bolt hold open works with AR 9mm magazines when SPECIAL 9mm AR BOLT CATCH is installed after the adapter. Uzi magazines require modification. Double feed system.

One-stop, drop-in solution with the parts you need to convert a mil-spec small pin (.154″ dia.), .223 lower receiver with collapsible stock to accept a 9mm upper receiver assembly. Kit includes a replacement hammer, recoil spring, and buffer optimized to handle the reduced recoil force of the 9mm Luger round, as well as a Magwell Conversion Block that installs in your rifle’s magazine well to allow it to accept Rock River’s 25-round 9mm magazines, available separately. To use the Kit on a full-size rifle with fixed A1/A2-style buttstock, install the separately available Delrin® Spacer in buffer tube behind recoil spring.